Superintendent Meets With Parents Over Coffee 6-Figure Salary Positions Discussed

By Bob Vosseller

MANCHESTER – Last year the governing body created the position of Director of Utilities, a measure designed to eliminate a third-party vendor as a required consultant, but that position has gotten a second look and is now being modified.

Resident Mary Irwin asked about the revised position of Director of Utilities in the Department of Public Works during a recent council meeting.

She said the position “was carved out and it no longer falls under the Division of Utilities. It was taken out and it was my understanding that this was done to save the township money because we had been spending a lot of money because we don’t have someone who has the proper license to fill the position.”

Irwin noted that the previous council approved it but now it is being looked at again.

(Positions - See Page 5)

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By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY

questions and to sip a bit of coffee.

Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – Having some java with John Berenato has helped bring parents and the office of the school superintendent a bit closer together. During his fi rst weeks in the role, he initiated the “Java with John” forum as a way to get to know parents in the school district and hear their concerns, answer their questions and to sip a bit of

By

coffee. He just celebrated his one-year anniversary as superintendent and is still holding these events.

A recent session held at the Whiting Elementary School was filled to the brim with attendees eager to impart their views and to hear his updates on school district news. Locations for the event rotate around the schools of the district.

(Meets - See Page 4)

Human Relations Commission

Wants Unity In Ocean County

–

Just say “hello.” It seems simple enough.

It is part of the Ocean County Human Relations Commission’s suggestion to help bring unity within a very diverse county.

As part of their overall goal, members meet monthly either virtually or in person to discuss what positive change they can work toward.

“What we are working towards is the elimination of violence and racism and we are working with people developing programs that break the silence people have and working towards a dialogue. This committee is through the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office,” Commission Chair Reisa Sweet said.

“What we are focusing on is the elimination of violence because we are experiencing a time of so much division,” Sweet said noting a rise in anti-Semitism incidents in Ocean County as well as incidents of hate crimes throughout the state.

“The Prosecutor (Bradley Billhimer) has been very supportive and it is a program where we try

Former Fire Chiefs Honored At Memorial Exhibit

to get everyone to really listen to each other and to talk about issues,” she added.

Sweet noted that the Commission has a fi ne example with one of its members who served as an inspiration, Reverend William Simmons, (Unity - See Page 7)

By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUNTY –Former Ridgeway Fire Chief Frank Copeland

of Manchester, and former Manitou Park Chief Garland “Griff ” (Chiefs - See Page 16)

Meets: Continued From Page 1

In speaking with The Manchester Times, Berenato noted, “I did a lot of listening and observing and meeting people around the community and within the district and to really take the time to understand where Manchester has been in the past and where we are and where we were a year ago.”

“It was important for me to build rapport along with my leadership team, staff, the teachers, parents, the community and really put myself out there to let them know what I needed to do to keep this school district in a great place,” he said.

As to the challenges ahead, the superintendent said, “there were three areas that were identified in some of our chats that required my attention right away such as declining enrollment of K to 12. In terms of the amount of students that we had previously and looking at that trend of declining enrollment,” he added.

“We also have an increase of students who received ESL (English as a Second Language). We also had the increase in families that received (transportation) aid-in-lieu), families that utilize a non-public school. It is a requirement of the state for us to either provide transportation or provide the family with aidin-lieu with transportation money per child,” Berenato added.

He noted that with each challenge “we look at what we need to overcome and be solution oriented. A big positive for us was that we were awarded $3.1 million through the preschool expansion aid that was available for Manchester which it was eligible for, for quite a few years. Coming from my previous district, we already had the pre-school extension and actually had it since 2006.

“I was familiar with the requirements, what it entails and some of the pieces of the program that had to be in place and that was something that I and the director of special services put together in the application and we were awarded. That money is a nice offset because as our enrollment is declining we are repurposing that space to accommodate families who have three and four year olds and that increases our enrollment,” Berenato said.

He noted that like the Jackson School District, Manchester passed a resolution to support 12th District Assemblyman Alex Sauickie’s bill A-4461 which asks for the State “to provide us with some aid for the aid in lieu because it has such a substantial impact on our budget.”

“We are seeing some familiar challenges (with Jackson’s School District) and I think for Manchester we have a lot we can learn from has happened in Jackson and how we can be proactive,” he added.

Java with John may have started initially as a way to meet members of the community and as an introduction but it has proven to be a good communication vehicle in a more low key, conversational setting beyond a Board of Education meeting.

Berenato said the next Java with John will be held on March 27 at 6 p.m. at The Barn on Route 70.

He reminded the public that on March 16, the school district will host its strategic plan event at 5:30 p.m. at Manchester High School. This event will “engage the community and is planned to solicit some feedback on the direction they want us to take the district in.”

Positions: Continued From

Page 1

“There are two members on this council that were from the previous council and one of them voted no (Councilman Craig Wallis) so I wanted to know what changed? Are we going to save money by doing this?”

Mayor Robert Arace introduced Department of Public Works Director Al Yodakis who was present at the session and who will serve in that capacity. The mayor explained, “the intent as the Council and CFO (chief financial officer) and director of public works agrees is to still have that third party vendor removed to save money.”

“What happened was when it was previously presented to the town, the way it was positioned was that we would have a director of utilities come and have a required operator’s license called a Class III. The way it was positioned to the council previously, was that this director could have a Class III function as a field operator and manage budget and work.”

Mayor Arace further explained that the township couldn’t find a director with managerial and budgetary experience and a Class III license. “Those two people typically don’t coincide with one another. The field operator needs to get the plan second and actually mandated to be at the plant, 35 out of 40 hours a week for a Class III operator.”

“Finding that person has been extremely difficult so keeping in mind that my intention is to also remove the third-party operator, I am looking at how we can actually save the township more money,” he said. Arace said Yodakis had found in surrounding communities that in every instance they have a director and an operator beneath them. “My concern was that with the department of utilities being created for that position, that we have to fill it. The salary would be $150,000 and that we would still need a regulatory operator, Class III that would typically go for $100,000 per year.

Spring Hydrant Flushing

MANCHESTER – Attention residents of Manchester Township: The Manchester Township Department of Utilities will be flushing fire hydrants between the months of April and May. Each community will be notified when flushing begins in their area. Hours will vary during the day as well as during the night.

During this time, you will experience a difference in pressure and discoloration. Run your cold-water tap only until it runs clear. They apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

“Then we’d be looking at a salary of $250,000 per year to a combined position, not counting pension and benefits. My estimate put those two employees at a higher fee than the third-party operator which would be between $220,000 and $250,000.”

“Our plan is to still bring it in internally,” the mayor said. Yodakis had done that position since 2016 “and had done it very well. He will actually perform as the division head of utilities, for $15,000 a year. We have a staff member with a Class II internally who we would like to promote currently working on his Class III which would put us at $95,000 to $100,000 potentially for that operator.”

The mayor said Yodakis would earn between both jobs, a salary of $115,000, “as opposed to having a director and Class III operator putting us at $250,000. I won’t speak for Council but I think we all unanimously agree that if the intent is to save the town money, we are doing it more effectively by leveraging the wealth of expertise we already have.”

Yodakis said, “if it continued the way it was, you’d be hiring a director for probably $150,000. My wife thinks I’m crazy I’m willing to do it for $15,000. I’ve done it since 2016 and I thank you for your kind words. I’d like to think I’ve done a good job and made a lot of progress. You may see a new water tower up and we’ve done a lot of projects.”

“It is a significant cost savings to the town and we are still trying looking to promote one of our junior staff to become the licensed operator which is a 35 hour a week position. The gentleman has to pass two more tests and then we’ll be able to take this all in-house and eliminate this outside consultant,” Yodakis added.

Yodakis said, “we are doing everything we can to keep our costs down.”

Irwin noted, “I know what they paid to consultants last year and it was astronomical.”

“This will become more cost advantageous,” Mayor Arace added.

American Polish Club Of Whiting Road,

WHITING – The American Polish Club’s regular monthly meetings are scheduled for the 3rd Wednesdays of each month except for July and August (summer break). Their next meeting is on March 15 at 1:30 p.m. at Deerfield Hall, Crestwood Village 6 located at 6 Congasia

Check out Dr. Izzy’s Sound News on Page 18

Whiting.

Meetings are open to all seniors 55 and older who reside in other Senior Communities. You don’t have to be of Polish descent to join. Membership dues: $10 per year. Any questions, call RoseMarie Bartley, Secretary, at 732-350-4851.

Unity:

Continued From Page 1 the assistant pastor at the Sixth Street Baptist Church in Lakewood.

Simmons has his own mission which is simply to get everyone to say hello to one another. “We have to do what no one else is doing, make a difference in your community and in your state. People on this Earth are living a fast lifestyle to match our fast-paced activities in today’s world. It’s to the point where people can’t take a few seconds out of their time to acknowledge another person.”

He added, “many people don’t understand that saying ‘hello’ can make someone’s day. A small or simple greeting. It’s a simple principle that more people need to take part in. Going out of your way and not saying something to a person should make you feel uncomfortable. Is that the lifestyle or person you want to be? I don’t think so.

“People crave and need attention, and by offering up the simplest greeting by saying ‘hello,’ it could impact a great day for someone and you wouldn’t even know it. It feels good to make others feel like they are important,” the Reverend added. His observation grew to a full-fledged campaign of the Commission which resulted in the Prosecutor’s Office getting 250 hats made with the directive “Say Hello” printed on their front.

Billhimer said, “saying ‘hello’ is the jump point of this and I think it is the beauty of this program. You start off a conversation by saying ‘hello.’ So much of what we do here in this office is trying to break down stigmas. Breaking down stigmas with opioid abuse or bias crimes, I think if we can focus on what we can accomplish together and talk to someone one on one all that other stuff goes away. Just try to build relationships one on one, I try to do that every day.”

Reverend Simmons added, “hello is a powerful word, and it is important to show others they are deserving of this very simple greeting. It has more impact when spoken than many ever realize. It will amaze you with the response you will get.”

He gave two examples. “I was shopping in Howell and as I was reaching for something on the shelf this elderly lady was walking by and I said ‘hello.’ When I turned around she was crying and I asked ‘Are you okay?’”

“She said ‘No one has said hello to me in a long time. I live with my son and his wife. They don’t say hello or good morning. I am still sleeping when they go to work, when they come home all they say is did you feed the dog, did you feed the cat?’” Rev. Simmons said.

The reverend also noted meeting a man while walking and saying ‘hello.’ The man asked him if he knew him.

“I said ‘No, but you do now,’ and we sat down and started talking. He and I started to talk about sports, work, and what was going on in the world today. After 45 minutes he said he had to go and that he wished he could sit here all day with me.

Two simple words could turn this country around,” Rev. Simmons added. Simmons brought that message to Commission last year. He works security at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township where he meets many people during the course of a single day.

He feels that racial, political, cultural and religious differences have made it harder for people to interface together. That plus a preoccupation with smart phones resulting in people, “not knowing their neighbors anymore.”

To inquire about buying a hat, contact Simmons at simms2optonline.net or call the Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027.